Collateral Love | Tao

Chapter 35

"Mr. Huang! Mr Huang!" Tao and I woke up to Yeri pounding on the door of his hotel room.

He slipped on some clothes and made me hide in the bathroom, "What do you need, Yeri?"

"I can't find CJ."

"Maybe she went to the vending machines at the end of the hall. You should go check down there."

"Okay, I will."

The door closed again and Tao knocked on the bathroom door, "She's gone. You can go back across the hall."

I grabbed my panda charm but didn't even bother putting pants on and I ran back to my side of hall. Not realizing I didn't have a room key.

"CJ, there you are. Where are your pants?"

"Can you just let me in the room, please?"

Yeri unlocked the door and I managed to slip in without anyone else seeing me, "So what happened with your pants?"

I paused for a moment and came up with a quick lie, "I was playing strip poker with some of the college boys. I fell asleep there on accident and forgot to grab my pants because I wanted to get back in the room before wakeup call."

"You got to hang out with the college boys? Take me next time!"

"Okay, I will. I don't know if they'll invite me back. They said I was weird."

"Oh, I see."

I got in the shower and washed off last night. I put on my best outfit and let my hair dry how it was. I met everyone else in the lobby for breakfast.

"Jisoo, late as always," Tao commented.

"Whatever. It's my birthday. I'm allowed to be late."

"Fair enough."

I sat down with Sehun and Jongin. Sehun had his head down on the table, he seemed exhausted, "Why are you so sleepy? We have a long day today."

"Jongin wouldn't let me sleep," He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He looked almost like a baby.

"Yeah, we had lots of fun last night," Jongin smirked.

"Details are not needed."

"I want to know the details," Chanyeol sat down at the table.

"Alright, so, we were trying some new positions and stuff," Jongin began. I left the table before I could hear the rest and went to a different table by myself. Yeri was trying to flirt with Yixing. Minseok was seemingly nowhere to be seen. I guessed that Kris probably arrested him. I sighed quietly. I wished things could be normal with Tao. I wished we could hang out in piblic and go to the movies or go out to dinner. He was my favorite person to hang out with and I didn't even get to hang out with him out in the open. I started crying without even realizing it.

"Hey," Tao came over to me. "Do you need to step out for a minute?" He took me out of the room. "What's wrong?"

I shrugged and sniffled, "I don't know."

"You're not supposed to cry on your birthday."

"I'm sorry?"

"Why are you upset?"

"Because I just want to hang out with you."

"Soon, okay?"

I nodded, "Okay."

"Now, go get something to eat before we leave."

We walked back to the room. I expected everyone to give us judging looks, but nobody seemed to care that we had run off on our own. I sat at the table with him and Junmyeon, "You must be CJ."

"Yes, that's me."

"Yixing says he works for your mom," Junmyeon looked at me, then Tao. "He says you two have something in common."

"If you're referring to what I think you're referring to, then yes, we do have something in common."

"What are you two talking about?" Tao tilted his head. Junmyeon looked at Yixing, then back at Tao, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I see. We should go on a double date."

They both laughed.

"How is that funny? I was just upset about that."

"It's funny because it can't happen," Junmyeon said.

"It'll happen for us soon," Tao said. "I put in my two weeks' notice."

"Yixing is my teacher's assistant, but he's still a freshman."

"You two should just switch jobs," They looked at each other, then at me. "What?"

"Jisoo, that's the best idea I've ever heard," a smile lit up Tao's face.

"This could work. I'm fluent in Chinese and Korean. I'm putting in my two weeks' right now," Junmyeon got up and ran out of the room.

When Junmyeon came back our group left for a museum. I walked around the museum with Tao, Junmyeon, and Yixing. Tao and Junmyeon explained our plan to Yixing.

"Do you think it'll really work?" Yixing tilted his head.

"I'm certain," Junmyeon nodded.

I silently looked at some of the exhibits.

"Can you read those?" Tao asked.

"Yes. I've been trying to read the book you gave me."

"How's it going?"

"I'm perfectly capable of reading it, but have I ever mentioned how much I hate to read?"

"No, you haven't."

"I hate reading, but I like to write."

"That's interesting. Usually people who like writing like to read too."

"I like writing more than reading. I'm trying to power through this book just for you though."

"How sweet."

He leaned in closer to me, "Meet me in my room tonight after Yeri falls asleep."

"I don't want to do stuff again. I'm kind of sore."

"No, it's nothing like that. Just be there, okay?"

"Okay."

After the museum we went to a restaraunt to celebrate mine and Sehun's birthday. My mom called me to wish me a happy birthday and ask me how China was. At this point, I wasn't even interested in China. I just wanted to be alone with Tao again and again.